Calla lily plant named ‘Picasso’

ABSTRACT

‘Picasso’ is a new variety of calla lily having a flower with a yellow-orange/purple colored spathe producing 1-15 flowers per tuber. The flower stems are about 50 cm in height. The leaves are green with many whitish spots and have a leathery texture.

Botanical classification: Zantedeschia sprengeri.

Varietal denomination: ‘Picasso’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of callalily, botanically known as Zantedeschia sprengeri and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Picasso’.

‘Picasso’ is a product of a planned breeding program which had theobjective of creating Zantedeschia hybrids for cut flower production ina wide range of colors with a large, classic flower shape. The breedingprogram began in 1989 and the new cultivar is a seedling selected fromthe crossing of a Zantedeschia sprengeri seedling 92839 (female parent,unpatented) with a Zantedeschia sprengeri seedling 92864 (male parent,unpatented). ‘Picasso’ was originated in 1998 by the inventor C. J. J.(Cecilius Jan-Jochem) Randag in 't Zand, The Netherlands as oneflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Picasso’ by tissue culture waspreformed by the inventor in August 2001 in 't Zand, The Netherlands.Subsequent asexual reproduction by tissue culture at the same locationhas demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as hereindisclosed for the new cultivar are retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and determined tobasic characteristics of Picasso which, in combination, distinguish thiscalla lily as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. White-Purple spathe;

2. Fast forcing time; and

3. High flower production.

Table 1 provides similarities and differences of ‘Picasso’ to itsparents and the Zantedeschia sprengeri variety ‘Cameo’ (unpatented):

TABLE 1 ‘Picasso’ Similarities Differences ‘92839’ Leaf shape Spathecolor and (female parent) flower number ‘92864’ Leaf spots Flower shape,flower (male parent) (maculation) color, and leaf shape ‘Cameo’ Flowershape Flower color (unpatented)

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety, withthe colors being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrationsof this type:

FIG. 1 is a close-up photograph of three ‘Picasso’ flowers;

FIG. 2 is a photograph of a single flower of the new variety; and

FIG. 3 is a field of ‘Picasso’ clones.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in 't Zand, The Netherlands under greenhouse conditions whichapproximate those generally used in horticultural practice. Colorreferences are made to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London, except where general color terms ofordinary significance are used.

THE PLANT

Size:

Height of the leaf canopy above the soil.—50-65 cm.

Height of top of flower above the soil.60-70 cm.

Diameter.—30-45 cm.

Form.—Erect.

Number of flowers per tuber:

Size 9-12 cm in diameter.—1-2 flowers.

Size 12-15 cm in diameter.—3-4 flowers.

Size 15-18 cm in diameter.—5-10 flowers.

Branches:

Character.—Many, like the variety ‘Celeste’.

Average number.—4.

Color.—Between Green group RHS 143A and Yellow-Green group RHS 144A,with spots of Red group RHS 53A.

Length.—40-50 cm.

Diameter.—10-15 cm.

Leaves:

Size.—Width: 10-15 cm. Length: 20-30 cm.

Number per plant.—7-25.

Shape.—Sagittate.

Color.—Upper surface: Green group RHS 137A-137B, with specks of RHS 4D.Lower surface: Green group RHS 137A-137B.

Margin.—Wavy.

Veins.—Configuration: Pinnate. Color: Yellow-Green group RHS 144A.

Surface quality.—Leathery.

Petiole.—Length: 30-50 cm. Color: Lower surface is between Yellow-Greengroup RHS 146B and RHS 146C with red spots of Red Group RHS 53A. Uppersurface is between Yellow-Green group RHS 146B and RHS 146C.

Roots:

Color.—White.

Branching.—Not different from other Zantedeschia.

THE FLOWER

Spathe:

Size.—Length: 6-9 cm. Width: 5-7 cm.

Color.—Upper surface: Base colour is Green-Yellow group 1D with a secondcolour of purple between Purple group RHS 76A and Red-Purple group RHS74B. Lower surface: Base colour is Green-Yellow group 1D with a secondcolour of purple between Purple group RHS 76A and Red-Purple group RHS74B.

Veins.—Color: Varies between Purple group RHS 76A and Red-Purple groupRHS 74B.

Shape.—Round.

Spadix:

Size.—Length: 20-50 mm. Diameter: 2-7 mm.

Color.—Yellow-Orange group between RHS 17A and RHS 17B.

Position relative to spathe.—Upright.

Peduncle:

Size.—Length: 50-65 cm. Diameter: 8-10 mm.

Color.—Varies between Yellow-Green group RHS 146B and RHS 146C.

Reproductive organs:

Location of female organs.—Basal position of the spadix.

Location of male organs.—Upper position of the spadix.

Perianth.—Conspicuous.

Stamens.—Not visible before pollen release.

Pistil.—Length: About 1 mm.

GENERAL

Disease resistance: No unusual susceptibility to disease.

Pest resistance: No unusual susceptibility to pests.

Heat tolerance: No heat tolerance.

Hardiness: Not hardy.

Flowering: Tubers planted in a greenhouse in The Netherlands in Februaryproduce flowers in April. Tubers planted outdoors in The Netherlands inMay produce flowers in July.

Lastingness: About two weeks on the plant.

Fragrance: None.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of calla lily plant named‘Picasso’ as described and illustrated.